MOTORISTS have been steering themselves towards new skills in car maintenance.

Each week the class of nine, mostly from the Hemlington and South Bank areas, meets for a hands-on lesson in how to carry out basic vehicle repairs.

Now the students - including gran-of-six Hazel Norwood, 73 - are celebrating after completing their 10-week course, with some gearing up to take their learning to the next level.

The scheme is part of a joint project between South Bank Women’s Centre and Middlesbrough College, and is hosted at the Hemlington Initiative Centre on Cass House Road.

Hazel, of Mapleton Drive, Hemlington, who puts her hobby to good use maintaining her Peugeot 306, said: “I really love this course, and have done it for several years. It makes your car safe for the road. If there are any problems you can do a check yourself straight away.”

The course is free to anyone receiving unemployment benefit, but all are welcome to register with the college.

Beverley Jameson, 43, from Grangetown, said she feels more confident when taking her Vauxhall Astra in for repairs.

The mum-of-two said: “At school we never had the opportunity to do anything like this - girls weren’t even allowed to try woodwork!

“But now I feel that if I broke down I could help the mechanic out by telling him where the problem was.”

This was echoed by Del Widdowson-Riley, who has taken part in six of the basic mechanics courses at the Hemlington centre.

She said: “I learn something new each time I come.

“And Ken Mustard, the tutor, is very good at explaining things and lets you try doing the repairs for real.”

The course is one of a number of programmes the college delivers direct to the community away from its Middlehaven campus.

Anura Rodrigo, Middlesbrough College’s assistant principal for community inclusion, said: “It’s really important for the college to take some of its courses into the community to hopefully encourage people back into learning.

“This course came about following requests from community groups whose members wanted to learn the basics of looking after their cars. Many of them have not been in education for many years, so it is good to deliver the course in the community in a familiar environment where they feel relaxed.”

For more information about courses Middlesbrough College offers to the community, log on to www.mbro.ac.uk .